Question

11.2.7 quiz: developments in the new millennium

question 3 of 10

what was the main factor that led to increased internet use in the 1990s?

a. more americans owned cellular phones and other internet-enabled devices.
b. new technologies allowed internet access without personal computers.
c. more americans had the means to access the internet.
d. email became a more important form of communication.

Explanation:

Analyze the historical context of 1990s internet growth

In the 1990s, the commercialization of the World Wide Web, the introduction of user-friendly web browsers (like Netscape Navigator), and the rapid decline in the cost of personal computers made home internet access affordable and practical for a broad segment of the public.

Evaluate the given options

• Option A is incorrect because cellular phones in the 1990s were primarily analog or early digital voice devices and were not widely used for internet access.
• Option B is incorrect because personal computers remained the primary gateway to the internet during this decade.
• Option C is correct because the combination of cheaper hardware, dial-up service providers, and infrastructure expansion meant that a significantly larger portion of the population had the financial and technical means to access the internet.
• Option D is incorrect because while email grew in popularity, it was a consequence of increased access rather than the primary driving factor behind the physical adoption of internet connections.

Answer:

• (A) More Americans owned cellular phones and other internet-enabled devices.
• (B) New technologies allowed internet access without personal computers.
• (C) More Americans had the means to access the internet. (Correct answer)
• (D) Email became a more important form of communication.